Post APrdvk0tJS4PeUj90a by owasow@mastodon.social
 (DIR) More posts by owasow@mastodon.social
 (DIR) Post #APrdvibgXgJVI1vV56 by owasow@mastodon.social
       2022-11-20T18:03:22Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       One of the things I loved about the early days of the net was the variety and specificity of online communities. For years, there were innumerable niche hangouts for people with common interests. Sadly, the arrival of one-size-fits-all “social networks” kinda nuked those worlds. We went from organizing around shared passions or neighborhoods to "friends" and "followers." What's exciting about this current moment is that Mastodon might be bringing niche community back. https://instances.social/list#lang=&allowed=&prohibited=&min-users=&max-users=
       
 (DIR) Post #APrdvk0tJS4PeUj90a by owasow@mastodon.social
       2022-11-20T20:53:23Z
       
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       Reading this post from the host of an information security-focused instance helped realize why Mastodon reminds me of the online communities of my youth. When I was coming of age (late 80s), my primary form of online community was Bulletin Board Systems and most of these micro-communities only existed thanks to a passionate host who supported them as a labor of love. These niche Mastodon communities have that same awesome (and fragile) BBS energy and I hope it flourishes. https://mastodon.social/@jerry@infosec.exchange/109377512824996767